i'm back.

it's hard to describe how my heart feels sometimes...

there are days when i feel such joy that all i can do is smile and walk with a skip in my step...

there are other days when my heart is so heavy that i don't know how to function...

today i am feeling joy like i haven't known in a while.

to understand i would have to take you step by step through the past few months of my life.

i'll sum it all up by saying i have been stressed this semester like i've never been before.

if you know me you know that school work is never a top priority for me.

school has been easy for me for a long time, and i've never really had to buckle down.

this semester though there has been one class (and a combination of other things going on in my life) that have sucked the joy right from me...

not to say that this semester has been completely void of joy, but i haven't been myself for a while. this week though i finished a huge assignment for a class, and a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

i am visibly different.

i praise God because He is the only reason that i was sustained through this stress...

this is all very vague, and it sounds petty.

all this stress wasn't solely on account of a class....

but i'm back.

and it feels good.

God is reminding me why I've been dancing and light-footed for so long.

He is renewing me, and today, this week He has saved me, like he so often has before.

my salvation is new each day.

.....

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i can't stop thinking about....

i think i've told you all before how easily i fall in love...

with anything...

this past week has been filled with moments like that...

so here are ten things that i can't get off my mind...

1. my friend emily....

she is beautiful and if you met here you would fall in love as well.

this week we got to sit together, drink coffee, laugh and dream of coloring our hair teal...

eventually i would love my hair to resemble a peacock

...

2. my friend beth...

i have had very few chances to get to hang out with her this semester..

but thursday night i got to rest my head on her shoulder and it was perfect.

3. this umbrella skirt...

i stumbled across it on this blog and i have a crush...

4. my darling boyfriend...

he made me baked spaghetti for my birthday (even the marinara sauce)

and bought me chocolate milk...

and earlier this week we ate ice cream while sitting in a fort he built...

it was perfect and i'm in love.

5. the fact that i have felt so loved by God this week.

the next few days are gonna be real stressful for me and he keeps reminding my heart that he's not gonna give me anything i can't handle

6. how much fun i had at work yesterday.

i had to work the football game ... not my thing...

but the people i got to work with made me laugh so much...

7. riding bikes to vecinos with david yesterday.

it was beautiful outside....and i beat him...twice...

bam!

8. i get to see my family today!!!

9. my friend ariane has been staying in our house this week...she just recently got back from africa and i have missed her so very much

10. i've journaled so much this week!

and i love going back and looking through what i've journaled over the past year...

hey...happy sunday. i love you.!

it's wednesday...can you even believe it!?!?!?!

my heart is dancing with excitement today....

its skipping.

its basking in the sunlight.

today is a good day and God has done an unbelievable job of refreshing me these last couple days and making His pursuit of me so obvious.

today muncie is bursting with sunshine.

and it is absolutely breathtaking... it makes me want to climb a tree..

or dance a jig...

or litter the sidewalk with chalk drawings...

or set up a lemonade stand...

or just hug people....

i got to talk with 3 of my most favorite virginia tech-ers...and my heart has not settled since i hung up my phone.

yesterday, i talked with my dear texan friend...and was reminded of what it's like when someone is so filled with faith...

we talked about dreams and what we think about the future...

i so value her opinion...

so now i'm determined...

i will dream...and satan can just deal with the fact that he's not winning this one....not ever again...

as you may have read in the last couple posts this semester has been ridiculously stressful.

satan has been attacking my heart, and often times i've just given up resisting...and given in to a whole lot of funks...

i've finally put my foot down, and given him an active "absolutely not..."

because this year...

this year has so much potential...

far too much to let a bunch of measly funks ruin.

so lets share in this delightful autumn sunshine...

things you should know...

1. i'm sorry that i have neglected blogging...as sad as this may sound... i think my heart has been missing it.

2. this has been a difficult semester (emotionally, relationally, spiritually)... and i have cried so much more than i'm used to

3. the afore-mentioned crying has been extremely helpful... and although i used to hate crying... the feeling i get after a good cry may be my new favorite thing.

4. God is doing a work in my heart and my life... i am positive that the end result will be mind-blowing (to me, at least) but this has been so much harder than i imagined

5. i have been blessed with the greatest friends on this planet.... and that may seem super sentimental... but they should know that they are stellar....

6. i have a boyfriend that cares for my heart in a way that i never knew was possible...i'm so thankful that God has given him the heart that he has

7.....this year has so much potential...please remind me to always look for that.

this semester has not started out easy.
i feel like i've been more stressed in the last two weeks combined than i was all last year.
(that might be a dramatic overstatement...)
ahh well.
but of course it is looking up.
it always looks up.
God always has everything in control.
i'm relearning how to bring Him glory by simply enjoying him...
so let's giggle and smile together...
maybe each of us should write down today 10 things about God that make us smile...
enjoy the sunshine...tell someone you love them, mkay?

i apoligize for being so elusive this summer...

my heart is so very excited ab0ut this year...
i'm not real sure yet what all the excitement is about...
some possible explanations..

• my room has been painted bright blue....you should come see it...so lovely
• i am living with a few of my very best friends...lots of cuddling.
• there are 2 kitchens in our new house
• we have a puppy!!!
• it's my senior year...BALL STATE!
• there's the possibility of making so many new friends this year...there are so many beautiful people in muncie!

and any number of things really....
my heart is giddy...
you wanna dance a happy little jig with me...?

sherbert!!!

i eat rainbow sherbert and i'm reminded of being at my grandparent's house in the summer.
i like that feeling...remembering.
two completely different moments in time..
with very similar emotions..
contentment...knowing you're surrounded by people you love and who love you.
it's the start of the 5th week of LT...
and it's been a hard summer...
hard because God is teaching me stuff ...
and it hurts....
but i'm growing...
and the Spirit is filling me..
because i can tell you one thing...this joy is not my own that's for sure.
but i'm baking cookies now...sitting across the table from my good friend, patrick....
and this is a great day...
tell me about yours....